Needle loom drives

ABSTRACT

A drive for a needling machine including a crank shaft for reciprocating a needle board and linkages for connecting the crank shaft to said needle board. One of the linkages is fixed to the needle board and guided for movement in a rectilinear path, while the other of said linkages is connected to the crank shaft for movement therewith at one of its ends and the other of its ends is pivotally connected to the linkage fixed to said needle board at a point intermediate spaced bearing means which guides it in a rectilinear path.

United States Patet [191 Brochetti Mar. 26, 1974 Primary Examiner-Louis K. Rimrodt Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Alonzo L. Neal; John J. Dempsey; Arthur F. Dionne [57] ABSTRACT A drive for a needling machine including a crank shaft for reciprocating a needle board and linkages for connecting the crank shaft to said needle board. One of the linkages is fixed to the needle board and guided for movement in a rectilinear path, while the other of said linkages is connected to the crank shaft for movement therewith at one of its ends and the other of its ends is pivotally connected to the linkage fixed to said needle board at a point intermediate spaced bearing means which guides it in a rectilinear path.

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NEEDLE LOOM DRIVES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to mechanism for driving and guiding needle boards in needle felting machines in a rectilinear path. Heretofore, it has been necessary to provide separate means for guiding the needle board in a rectilinear path and for driving or connecting said needle board to its crank driving means.

US. Pat. No. 3,368,256 issued Feb. 13, 1968 to Fehrer et al discloses a means for driving a needle board wherein one member of the linkage between the crank shaft and the needle board is guided for rectilinear motion. This member in turn is pivotally connected at its upper end to a second member, which is pivotally connected to the crank shaft. In use, this arrangement has proved disadvantageous, primarily because as the crank rotates, the force exerted on this upper motion transmitting member includes a sidewards thrust which tends to pull the lower link or member from side to side thereby placing an undue load upon the upper bearing. Furthermore, this arrangement provides for extended linkages which greatly increase the height of the machine.

The present invention overcomes the noted disadvantages of the mechanism shown in US. Pat. No. 3,368,256.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an improved arrangement of the members connecting the crank and the needle board over that disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,368,256. In this invention, the motion transmitting member is formed as a yoke-shaped member with arms extending from the crank and wherein said arms are pivotally connected to the lower motion transmitting member at a point between spaced bearings which guides the lower member for reciprocation in a rectilinear path. In this way the sideward thrust carried by the upper and lower bearings is minimized since having the connection located between these spaced bearings eliminates a leverage reaction that is a part of any connection outside of this bearing area. Furthermore, a much greater length of the motion transmitting member minimizes this crank angle and also the side thrust load which is in direct proportion to this angle. Furthermore, the center of the crank shaft can be located closer to the needle board for any given crank stroke to reduce the height of the machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic front sectional view of the essential drive elements of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines IIII of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown the essential elements of the present invention. These comprise a needle board 10 which is provided with a plurality of needles 12 for needling fiber or the like in the usual fashion. Needle board 10 is connected to a crank shaft 14 by means of motion transmitting members to be described hereinafter. Crank shaft 14 is mounted in a housing 16 for rotation in bearings 18. Crank shaft 14 includes two cranks 20. Each of the cranks 20 has pivoted thereto a motion transmitting member in the form of a yoke 22 which has arms 23, which extend downward from the crank through openings or slots 24 in housing 16. The other end of yoke 22 is pivotally connected at 26 to the crank, whereby rotation of said crank will impart a rotary motion to the upper end of yoke 22.

Rigidly fixed to needle board 10 are two lower motion transmitting members 30 at points 32. Lower members 30 are guided for movement in a rectilinear path by lower bearings 34 and upper bearings 36 which are mounted in a support 37. Members 30 also extend into housing 16 through openings 38. Arms 23 of yoke 22 are pivotally connected to members 30 at pivots 40 at a point intermediate the upper and lower bearings. Housings 37 are provided with slots 42 to permit 40 to move in a rectilinear path within housings 37.

In operation, rotation of shaft 14, causes crank 20 and the upper end of yoke 22 to move in rotary path. This, in turn, causes the lower ends of arms 23 and lower members 30 and needle board 10 to reciprocate in a rectilinear path equal to the throw of the crank with the sideward thrust of the crank being distributed between the lower bearings 34 and upper bearings 36, thereby providing a more stable construction and one wherein the life of these bearings is greatly increased.

Having particularly described the invention, what is now claimed is:

1. In web needling apparatus having a needle board, drive means for reciprocating said needle board in a rectilinear path, comprising:

a. first motion transmitting members rigidly connected to said needle board;

b. spaced bearing means for guiding each of said first members for reciprocation in a rectilinear path;

c. a crank shaft carrying a plurality of cranks supported for rotation on said apparatus;

d. second motion transmitting members, each having one end pivotally connected to one of said cranks and another end pivotally connected to one of said first members at a point between said spaced bearing means whereby said needle board reciprocates in a rectilinear path upon rotation of said crank shaft.

2. In web needling apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said second members terminate in a yoke at its other end. 

1. In web needling apparatus having a needle board, drive means for reciprocating said needle board in a rectilinear path, comprising: a. first motion transmitting members rigidly connected to said needle board; b. spaced bearing means for guiding each of said first members for reciprocation in a rectilinear path; c. a crank shaft carrying a plurality of cranks supported for rotation on said apparatus; d. second motion transmitting members, each having one end pivotally connected to one of said cranks and another end pivotally connected to one of said first members at a point between said spaced bearing means whereby said needle board reciprocates in a rectilinear path upon rotation of said crank shaft.
 2. In web needling apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said second members terminate in a yoke at its other end. 